The British Library: The Mughal Empire

This is a jade and gem-set flywhisk handle or morchhal. It has a flaring cup-shaped mouth constructed with eight vertical panels of jade and is set with rubies and emeralds in gold collets to form flowers and leaves. In paintings, attendants are shown holding peacock feather flywhisks in their subservient position behind the emperorPicture: British Library Board/ (c) Private Collection, Courtesy of Simon Ray, London